The latest social media craze is a new app called Yik Yak. Its basically an anonymous Twitter that you can comment on. So obviously its had some issues on its way to social media popularity. Continue reading
Category Archives: News
Turkey to Open First Apple Store
Despite its stringent social media regulations, Turkey is opening its first Apple store
Apple announced Friday that it will be opening the first Apple store in Istanbul, Turkey on April 5. The Zorlu Center mall will house the company’s first foray into Turkey, which Apple CEO, Tim Cook, explains “will be unique in all respects, with a store concept that will be the first of its kind in the entire world.”
New App Yik Yak Combines Facebook and Twitter
The new app Yik Yak has now made it possible to post anonymous messages onto a feed that is publicly available to all users within a specific radius. Though the app is considered social media, it definitely does not serve the same purpose as say Facebook or Twitter, but it does share some similar elements. Continue reading
Spritz: The newest reading app to make you smarter
It looks like our smart phones are promising to make us smarter now. The release of the new reading app, Spritz, is delivering on those promises. Spritz allows readers to read each word individually, at speeds from 200 to 2,000 words per minute.
The new Spritz reading app
Where is Flight 370? The Mystery Continues
The question still stands; Where is Flight 370? Social Media has taken over the broadcast and search for the flight that seems to have vanished into thin air. Twitter and Facebook have taken the lead on presenting updates on the story, and yet over a week later the disappearance is still a mystery.
Sony Project Morpheus Competes with Oculus Rift
As of March 18, Sony announced the development of Project Morpheus. What is Sony Project Morpheus? Well, it doesn’t have anything to do with the famous character from the Matrix, but Sony’s new virtual reality head gear could have users feeling transported to another world. But competition with Oculus’ Oculus Rift v2.o has developers wondering if users will choose the red or the blue pill.
Has Telecommunications Come to its Biggest Barrier Yet?
With Malaysia Flight 370 Still Missing, Telecommunications Becomes Helpless Continue reading
GM and Toyota Investigations Over Recalls
The importance of transparency: GM and Toyota’s investigations over recalls show the communications world the necessity of being open and honest with your publics.
The GM and Toyota investigations regarding recalls has revealed a common trend in the news throughout the past few years for how they handled these negative situations. As many of you know, Toyota Motor Corp., which after a four-year government investigation will pay $1
.2 billion in connection to withholding information regarding sudden acceleration problems with some of its vehicles. And one of the primary reasons that the company is in so much trouble is due to the fact that they knew about the potential problems for years without coming forward with any of the information discovered. It’s this very issue that is currently getting General Motors into trouble.
As a general public, we can be judgmental and hold grudges. However we also know how to forgive if the company is deemed worthy of forgiveness. Withholding information, especially if that information has the potential of harming our lives or the lives of our loved ones, is generally not one of these forgiving traits.
Is there an Apple Innovation Decline?
Apple CEO Tim Cook criticizes new book
Tim Cook and Steve Jobs together
Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs, by Ykari Iwatani Kane, argues that the company has lost its innovative touch since the death of Jobs. Is there an Apple innovation decline?
When Steve Jobs died, everyone knew that Apple would take a hit? How big of a hit was up to the consumer to decide. So far, the company has more-or-less remain stagnant. If and why is there a Apple innovation decline?
Former Wall Street Journal Reporter Yukari Iwantani Kane, argues that Apple is slowly declining from an iconic to “just another company.”
To see more of Tim Cooks response to CNBC Click Here for Wall Street Journal Link.
So that leaves the question, is there actually an Apple innovation decline? Well lets take a look at their three successful products.
Macbook
Progression of MacBooks
The Macbook is a notebook computer manufactured by Apple from early 2006 until today. The only chance, adding in a single word, the Macbook Pro. Although there has been some changes in design of the computer by changing the casing as well as the screens that are used, all in all the computers are pretty much the same. While some companies are incorporating touch screens and making Tablets, Apple has stayed the same. No Innovation.
Ipad
The iPad is a tablet computer made by Apple which was released in 2010. They use both Wi-Fi and cellular data plans and have sold over 170 million since 2010. Well the iPad is about the only real product we have seen some innovation. What did they do? They made it mini!!! Now the mini iPad is a great devise but lets be real here, it is either A) A smaller iPad. B) A larger iPhone. or C) A whole new invention that blew the minds of the consumers. Correct answers A and B. No Innovation
Iphone
Well, we all know what I am about to say here. I use the iPhone 5. And that is not even the most recent phone they have. I think that is enough said. No Innovation.
To be fair the company has made efforts to compete with Microsoft office with its Pages, Numbers and Keynote. However these applications are new and most people don’t want to make the change from what they already know.
The Future
Apple is a fantastic company that has seen adversity before. They will bounce back, and they will come up with the next hit product. It is just a matter of time…
Spotify Acquires Music Intelligence Company, The Echo Nest
What’s new in music news?
According to a press release published by the company yesterday, Spotify has announced that it plans to acquire The Echo Nest, a “leading music intelligence company.” The acquisition will now have us seeing Spotify using The Echo Nest platform to “drive music discovery” and aid brands in building “amazing music experiences for their audiences.” Additionally, the deal will likely prompt some changes to the status quo.
Japan’s Technological World takes a Toll on Birthrates
Japan is a country known for its innovative gadgets. But is it worth the price of a declining population?
Tokyo, Japan, known for its face paced lifestyle is the world leader in technology. This country has more Nobel Prize winners than any other country and leads the pack with thousands of researchers who dedicate their lives to coming up with the next big thing. Although Japan’s technological successes are impressive, its population is taking a toll with birthrates decreasing to “1.3 children per women” and it will keep declining in years to come.
“Hello, Stranger! Give Me a Job.”
The internet immortalizes the best and worst of people. Before clicking that submit, send, or tweet button, one should think long and hard before deciding to release their opinion for the world to see now and forever.
MakerBot’s New Mini 3D Printer Makes a Big Splash
MakerBot, known for its desktop 3D printers, has just announced its newest and most affordable model yet.
MakerBot announced in a press release on Tuesday that the company is now taking orders for the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer and is expected to start shipping by spring. This newest product is already the winner of four awards from the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, including the CES 2014 Editors’ Choice Award from Popular Mechanics. What’s all the buzz about? Continue reading
Jamie Benn: A Dallas Hero?
Jamie Benn: A Dallas Hero?
Is Jamie Benn a hero or an enemy?
Dallas Stars Headshot
Jamie Benn is a 6’2″ 210 pound Left Wing for the Dallas Stars. He was born July 18th 1989 in Victoria, British Columbia. In his career, he has scored over 100 goals, 140 assists and has 244 points. So Benn is the captain for the Dallas Stars, and has done great things for them… What makes him an enemy then?
Well for those of you who have not kept up with the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Jamie Benn really screwed the pooch for the USA Mens Hockey team.
To make it simple, Benn scored the lone goal for Team Canada in a 1-0 semifinal win over USA today.
Benn in Canadian Jersey
What makes him a hero?
Well, Dallas fans have known for a while that Benn is an elite NHL forward. After this semi-final round in the Olympics, he became a national hero. Not for team USA and his beloved Dallas Stars, but for his home country Canada.
Today, Jamie Benn announced his presence and was finally accepted as an elite hockey player to all those that doubted him. What this means for his future is still unknown. USA fans may look down on him, while Canada fans are loving him.
The question remains, will Dallas fans forgive him?
Well at the start of the 2013-2014 season he was award a “C” on his Stars Jersey. One thing is for sure, he did step up. All we can hope for is that he brings the fire he has in his eye as a Canadian, back to the Big D.
Candy Crush Worth $500 Million
Smartphones are ubiquitous. Everywhere we go, people are looking at their cell phones texting, surfing the web, playing an app, or just carrying it in their hand to avoid the feeling of separation anxiety. Due to this obsession with our handhelds, more and more applications are introduced each year, and becoming so popular that they can join the New York Stock Exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars. One app, to be specific, that might be striking a $500 million deal is Candy Crush. Continue reading
SMU’s New ‘It’ Blogger!
Lala Bellaa
There are thousands of bloggers around the world-from The Blonde Salad’s Chiara Ferragni, to The Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine as well as Song of Style’s Aimee Song and Cupcakes and Cashmere’s Emily Schuma- and they are all revolutionizing the fashion world as we know it. Now, SMU has its very own upcoming blogger to follow and praise- Lala Bellaa’s Isabella Sanchez. Born in Brazil but raised around the world, this edgy fashion lover is combining her multicultural views and her South American roots to offer a new fashion perspective to the Dallas scene. Continue reading
New e-Book Hits the Stands in the Digital Communication World
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What’s the next biggest trend in the digital world?
The e-Book. GovDelivery, the leading public communication solution that offers an automated e-mail and digital subscription management platform to government, announced the availability of “What’s Next,” a complimentary e-book that identifies key trends in digital communications. GovDelivery enables government organizations to connect with more people, and get those people to take action. More than 1,000 government organizations use their communications platform to reach over 60 million people. GovDelivery shares tips and strategies for public sector communicators to capitalize on these trends to achieve mission results.
The key to staying connected – is GovDelivery
Facebook More Popular Than Ever Before
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On the eve of Facebook’s tenth birthday, reports show that Facebook is more popular than ever before. Facebook is used by 57 percent of adults, and of adults that use the Internet 70 percent have Facebook. As far as teenagers 70 percent have one, and 64 percent of Facebook users use the social media site everyday. All together Facebook has more than 1.2 billion users and is the most used social media platform in the world.
Crimes Against Humanity Flood North Korea
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What is going on in North Korea? Well, to put it in perspective, reports have compared North Korea’s atrocities to that of the Nazi’s. However, North Korea refuted, saying the findings are wrong. Typical, yet it’s extremely rare for a UN report to directly implicate a country’s leader if nothing was wrong. In other words, the UN is taking this very seriously. A UN panel warned the North Korean leader that he may be held accountable for alleged crimes against humanity–think torture, rape, slavery, and murder. The UN called on the international community to act in whatever manner necessary.
For almost a year, there has been an ongoing investigation traced back to the abuses of the people of North Korea. One witness, a survivor of a North Korean prison camp, told the commission of “seeing a guard beat a nearly starving woman who had recently given birth, then force the woman to drown her baby.” Others told of being “imprisoned for watching soap operas, trying to find food for their families, traveling without permission or having family members considered suspect by the government.”
What is going on in North Korea today is simply incomprehensible. How can dictators exude such extreme power over their people in order to torture them. Sadly, it is evident that genocide will be an ongoing issue in our world, no matter what any humanitarian says.
Land of the Free? U.S. Now Ranked 46
The United States has dropped 13 places to a dismal 46 on the World Press Freedom Index. 
Reporters Without Borders annually ranks countries based on how they maintain freedom of the press. In a ranking of 180 countries, the United States now stands at number 46. Public opinion can best be summed up by The Atlantic, “At least the birthplace of the first amendment managed to come in one spot ahead of Haiti.”